Zanardi injured in crash
Alex Zanardi, the Italian race car champion who transitioned into a gold medalist Paralympian after losing both of his legs, was seriously injured in a handbike race Friday.
Zanardi was transported by helicopter to Santa Maria alle Scotte hospital in Siena, Italy, following an incident near the Tuscan town of Pienza during a national race for Paralympic athletes, police said.
A medical bulletin from the hospital said Zanardi underwent “a delicate neurosurgery operation” due to “severe cranial trauma.”
The surgery lasted about three hours, after which Zanardi was moved to the intensive care unit.
A Carabinieri police official in Montepulciano said the incident involved a “heavy vehicle.”
“Alex veered slightly into the oncoming lane just when a truck came. (The truck) tried to swerve but couldn’t avoid the crash,” said national team coach Mario Valentini.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
The NCAA on Friday expanded its policy banning states with prominent Confederate symbols from hosting its sponsored events, one day after the Southeastern Conference made a similar declaration aimed at the Mississippi state flag.
The current NCAA ban, in place since 2001, prevents states from hosting what the NCAA calls predetermined sites, such as for men’s basketball tournament games. Mississippi is the only state currently affected by the policy.
The expanded policy means that even when sites of NCAA events are determined by performance, as they are in sports such as baseball, women’s basketball and softball, Mississippi schools will not be permitted to host. Mississippi’s two Southeastern Conference schools, the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State, regularly host NCAA baseball regional and super regional games.
HOCKEY
Canada has approved a National Hockey League plan to play in Canada during the coronavirus pandemic, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said.
The plan required an exemption as the U.S.-Canada border is currently closed to all non-essential travel until at least July 21 and those who enter Canada must self-isolate for 14 days. The league plans to have training camps open in July and to play games without spectators in a couple of cities in late July or August.
Freeland said Canada’s top public health officer as well as the top health officers of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Toronto worked closely with the NHL to approve the plan.
Three Lightening players have COVID-19: The Tampa Bay Lightning temporarily closed their facilities after three players and at least two staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
In a release posted on the team’s Twitter account, general manager Julien Brisebois announced the players are self-isolating and are asymptomatic other than a few experiencing lowgrade fevers. Anyone who may have been in contact with the individuals has been notified.
The team did not identify the players; it brings the count up to 13 NHL players having tested positive since the season was paused March 12.
The positive tests come some two weeks after players were allowed to return to their respective facilities to take part in voluntary on- and off-ice workouts. Players were allowed to skate in groups of up to six at a time.
WATER POLO
Tibor Benedek, a three-time Olympic water polo champion who captained and later coached Hungary, has died. He was 47.
Benedek, whose death was announced by the Hungarian Water Polo Federation, retired from all sporting activities in May due to an undisclosed illness.
He was a prolific goalscorer and won dozens of national and international titles with Hungary and club teams including Hungary’s UTE and Hoved and Italy’s Roma and Pro Recco.
Besides gold medals at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics, Benedek also won a world championship in 2003, a European championship in 1997, two World League titles and a World Cup.
TENNIS
A chair umpire who has officiated at the U.S. Open and Paralympics was suspended for 21⁄2 years for failing to report that he was approached about altering match scores and for not cooperating with the investigation.
The Tennis Integrity Unit said that Armando Belardi Gonzalez, a 40-year-old from Venezuela, also was fined $5,000 – but he only needs to pay $1,000 of that unless he breaks anti-corruption rules again.